Happy Spring! This week has two events happening. If you happen to be in school this week, check out the beautifully decorated doors to classrooms for Teacher Appreciationhappening all week long. Thank you parents for doing such an amazing job with the help your children. We also have a fabulous beach party happening at the end of the week. Please come celebrate and dance. Lastly, please check our calendar below for updated dates on upcoming events. Next week we have our Spring concert and art show on Wednesday April 6th.

This Saturday, I urge you to vote in the town elections. Here is a quick note from Kate Leary who along with Gina Reeder have been working on keeping us all informed on the overcrowding issue of the Arlington schools. “Please vote in the Town Election on Saturday, April 2! Polls are open from 8am-8pm. Nine parents of Hardy students are running for Town Meeting this year. You can vote for a fellow Hardy parent if you live in any Hardy precinct. Races are contested, so your support is important! Many articles that are critical to the future of our schools will come before Town Meeting during the next few years. The races for School Committee and Board of Selectmen are also contested. Please join the Hardy Enrollment Google Group for more information about the election”:https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/hardyenrollment

Please also note the letter from Arlington EATS at the very end of this Post. This is a great community organization to get involved with. Our own Hardy 5th grade Girl Scouts are getting a snack program set up at Hardy school with the help of Arlington EATS.

Finally check out the note from our very own Hardy librarian, Margaret Muirhead, and the link to her website. There are many fabulous book recommendations for young and old.

There are again quite a few community notes as well as notes for the upcoming events. Two of our very own teachers will be organizing a couple of courses at the Hardy school this summer; check out their advertisement below. Next PTO meeting is next Tuesday, April 5that 6:30 p.m. Please come and join us.Cheers,Cédrine Bell, PTO presidentThis week-Friday April 1st Teacher Appreciation WeekFriday April 1st 6:30-8:30 p.m.Beach Party at the Hardy School!Saturday April 2nd 8 a.m.-8 p.m.Town Elections. Please vote!Tuesday April 5th 6:30-8 p.m.PTO Meeting. All are welcome.Wednesday April 6th 9-10 a.m.Spring art show and concertMonday April 18th-Friday April 22nd April vacationFriday April 29th 2:30-4 p.m.Walk-a-ThonTuesday May 3rd 6:30-8 p.m.PTO MeetingThursday May 5th Literacy NightFriday June 3rdField Day (rain date is Friday the 10th)Friday June 17thBBQ!I Heart Hardy Library blog updates

After a bit of a hiatus, Ms. Muirhead is back to blogging about some of the goings-on in the Hardy Library. Please check out her blog at ihearthardylibrary.weebly.com (You can also find the link at the Hardy School website, under Classrooms.)Here are some recent blog posts:Mock Caldecott FunMock Caldecott ResultsMakerspace: Building an Elf HouseA Big Thank You to Hardy FamiliesTeacher Appreciation Week is underway at Hardy School! Thanks to your contributions to the PTO the following surprises are in store for teachers and staff this week:Monday - potted herb plant delivered to classroomTuesday - Apples upon arrival to schoolWednesday - catered lunch (2-3 additional volunteers needed to help set up or clean up. Sign up here or via link on website.)Thursday - after school ice cream socialFriday - Principal's breakfast!As special Thank You to all of Hardy Room Parents for all of the wonderfully decorated doors around the school in honor of the teachers. If you haven't had a chance to see them, take a quick walk around the school to check them out! Questions about Teacher Appreciation Week can be directed to Jill (jswilling99@hotmail.com) or Patsy (patsy@avalon-ventures.com)Friday, April 16:30pm-8:30pm

Get ready to say “farewell” to winter and “get your summer on” with the whole family at the Hardy Beach Party!·WHAT: 1st HARDY BEACH PARTY!! Beach music, games, dancing and light refreshments·WHEN: This Friday, April 1st, 6:30pm – 8:30pm·ADMISSION: Free!!·HOW CAN I HELP?: We are so glad you asked! This event is only possible with volunteers – whether giving time during the event or preparing/buying food.http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4daca82da20-beach

Dear Parents,Arlington EATS will again be hosting April Vacation lunches for any students (and their families) interested in joining us for a community meal. This year, Beaujolais Catering, Whole Foods Arlington and La Victoria Taqueria will be very generously donating these meals. Yum! Please RSVP for our Vacation Lunches by Monday, April 11th by filling out this form:http://goo.gl/forms/bXJYVEHhtuVolunteering over April vacation is a great time to volunteer with your kids! Sign up here. And we just released our new Weekend Food Distribution signups, so get the shift you want here. Thank you for helping make this all volunteer program possible.

Thank you! Tell your Teachers they are STARS!Deadline April 12 (for delivery before National Teacher Appreciation Week -not Hardy's Teacher Appreciation Week)The Arlington Education Foundation STARS (School Teachers are Really Special) program is a way to say, “Thank you for all you do!” For a donation of $15 or more, the teacher of your choice will receive a certificate that honors him or her with a gift in his or her name. STARS certificates make great teacher appreciation gifts! You can donate to STARS at any time during the year, but the deadline is April 12 to ensure delivery before National Teacher Appreciation Week which begins May 2. New this year – give your STARS online!http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/wp/stars/donate-now-to-starsTWO FUN HANDWRITING CLASSES in JULY!Does your child need some printing practice or long to learn cursive?Join us for just a few hours this summer for some focused fine motor fun!Collaboratively taught by:Ann de Cifuentes, M.Ed. and Deb Bermudes, OTR/LGrade 2 teacher Occupational Therapist---------------------------------------------------------------------Print It!-designed to meet the needs of elementary students-Focused teaching of printed letter formation with hand strengthening& fun practice opportunities built in!Dates: Tuesdays-Thursdays for 2 weeks: July 12 - 15 AND July 19 - 2Time: 9:00 – 10:30Cost: $200.00Kid Cursive!-designed for third & fourth graders interested in learning the art of cursive-Dates: Tuesdays-Thursdays for 2 weeks: July 12 - 15 AND July 19 - 22Time: 10:30 – 12:00Cost: $200.00-----------------------------------To register or for more information: handwritingmadesimple@gmail.comDeadline for Registration: MAY 20, 2016 Spaces LimitedPlease Note: Classes will be held at Hardy Elementary School however are not affiliated with the Arlington Public Schools.